Marian Martin 9361
I have become just a little obsessed with vintage apron patterns. I’m surprised to discover that they can go for $5-$50 on eBay. I was really happy to win this one at a reasonable price. Since I mostly wear aprons for cooking, hostess aprons aren’t really practical. BUT, I fell in love with this one. I added a bib and was suprised at how much work it took to fit it. I really should have copied it onto paper before I finished sewing this up. One of the things I like about aprons is that you can use fun or pretty fabrics that you wouldn’t normally wear in a garment or out in public. This one is a prime example. The pictures don’t do it justice. The fabric is stunning, but I am not a big flower gal. It makes the perfect apron!
McCall 5716
This is a current pattern but a good, classic style. Every gal needs a little black dress in her wardrobe. Believe it or not, I have made it to this ripe age without one. I had to do all kinds of alterations to make it fit, but it can now be used as the starting point for other dresses. My PR review can be found at http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=42467
The Dog Days of Summer
Nothing new to report. About this time every year, I lose my sewing mojo. This is because I get inspired by all the new fall/winter patterns and fabrics coming into the stores, but know that I can’t wear them for 6-8 weeks. I have a couple new patterns that should make great additions to my fall wardrobe, once I get started on it. I’ve made a muslin of the full skirted version of the dress and so far, it looks good. 
I’m still trying to find a good, basic blouse pattern to replace the one that arrived missing pieces. I think this blouse might work.
What’s fantastic about these patterns is that they are both in my size, no grading needed! So, ladies, the larger sizes are out there, you just have to be patient!
Sewing update and Mad Men photos
This week has been muslin week. I managed to grade and fit 3 different dresses and bought fabric for one. I think these 3 dresses will be the last of the summer dresses. It’s time to think about cold weather.
In Mad Men news, AMC has posted a photo gallery of Season 3. They look fantasic! There seems to be a change in look for Betty Draper. She’s wearing more slim cut dresses instead of the full skirts. I’m dying to see what this means. In previous seasons, she really dressed the part of a suburban housewife in the full-skirted shirtdresses. The sheath dresses could indicate a loss of innocence after what happened towards the end of season 2. Also, at the end of season 2, she was pregnant and there are no pics of her pregnant. I wonder if we come back to season 3 after the baby is born. I hope not. I think vintage maternity wear is sooo cute. As usual, Joan is fabulous, but the hair is not as bright but I know my monitor doesn’t show accurate colors. Peggy’s look is a little more grown-up, which we got hints of from season 2. I am so excited for the season premier!
http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/2009/07/photos-season-3-gallery.php
Mad Men yourself
Not much going on around here. I was waiting for a new 1950’s blouse pattern to arrive before starting new projects. Well, it came and it was not as advertised. It had a front, the collar and a back facing. This is the first time in 5+ years of buying vintage patterns on eBay that this has happened. The seller claims to be looking for the pieces and I hope she can find them. Well, onto grading and fitting some new dresses, then!
How cute is this? Mad Men has been stepping up the marketing in anticipation of the season 3 premier on August 13, 2009. This cute cartoon-yourself thing kept me occupied during a long date with insomnia. http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself/ Have fun and please share your avatars with me!
Another Butterick 4443 and an apron
I originally had plan to make several of Butterick 4443, but I lost the pattern and my fitted muslin. A very kind lady from patternreview.com gave me another copy of the pattern, but I haven’t been able to duplicate the great fit I had gotten with the original. This dress is a cotton sateen from Hancocks. The fit is ok, but the shoulders feel too wide. I need to work on the muslin some more before I make another one.
This second item is a cobbler apron. It’s a size medium, so I graded up, but I think I made it too big.
Mad Men Contest
I’m sure many of you are big fans of Mad Men. AMC and Banana Republic are holding a “casting call” contest. You have to get the paperwork at Banana Republic to send in photos of your best Mad Men look. The winner gets a walk-on role in the show. If they had done this last year, I would have been all over that contest. However, I just don’t have the look any more. I’ve gained too much weight, I hacked off my hair, my hurt back won’t let me wear high heels any more. I would love to see someone I know win this contest. Let me know if you enter!
http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/2009/07/banana-republic-casting-call.php
New Look 6569
I haven’t done a whole lot of sewing lately, which is why I didn’t post last week. This week’s garment is New Look 6569. It’s a current release and I believe a Spring 2009 design. It is of a cotton stretch poplin. The pleats were somewhat time consuming, but the end result is a pretty, lightweight wardrobe basic. Every girl needs a black cotton skirt.
The other project that I have been working is sewing my own bras, which there won’t be picctures of. I’ve tried to make my own in the past with not very good luck. Since becoming active on www.patternreview.com, I found a great European pattern (http://www.elingeria.de/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_59_23&products_id=4676) that has gotten great reviews. The instructions are in Dutch, so it helps if you have already made a bra before attempting this one. Fitting the bra pattern is a long process, but once fit is accomplished, sewing them up takes 1-2hrs each. I’m also in the middle of grading and fitting a 1950’s blouse pattern that I received in a pattern swap with a lovely lady from The Fedora Lounge.
Simplicity 4920
This is an early 1960’s Simplicity pattern, which is a good example of the transition from the New Look 1950s styles and the mod styles of the mid-to-late 1960s. This dress is ends my relationship with linen. Back when I was involved in historical reenacting, I sewing with linen and wool exclusively. However, it just doesn’t work for 1950’s, early 60’s fitted garments. The muslin of this dress was much more fitted and showed off my waist much better. In linen, it just sorts of sags. However, linen is ideal in hot, humid D.C. summers. I love the pleats and the bow and plan on making this in a stiff, woven cotton.
KwikSew 3485
This is my husband’s Father’s Day present. He really likes retro bowling shirts, like DaVinci and Steady. However, most of those shirts are a heavy polyester, not the best thing for hot and humid D.C. summers. I hope a cotton version of his favorite style will prove to be more comfortable. This pattern, like most KwikSew patterns, was a straightforward sew with great directions. I could see making many more of this pattern.
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